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'They will look back when Hogg dropped the ball over the line - that's a big moment in that game'

By PA
(Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Johnny Sexton believes Stuart Hogg’s calamitous fumble at the start of last year’s Guinness Six Nations will help fuel Scotland’s motivation to end their dismal run against Ireland.

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Gregor Townsend’s men lost 19-12 in Dublin on the opening weekend of the 2020 tournament after a self-proclaimed “schoolboy error” from captain Hogg cost them a certain second-half try.

The Scots were also beaten 31-16 at the Aviva Stadium in the Autumn Nations Cup in December and have won just one of their last 10 meetings with the Irish, suffering five successive defeats, including at the 2019 World Cup.

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Ireland skipper Sexton admits his side have benefited from good fortune in recent meetings and anticipates Scotland will be reviewing mistakes – including Hogg’s blunder – in a bid to snap their losing streak on Sunday.

Asked how Ireland have maintained an edge on their rivals, he replied: “A little bit of luck, some fine margins – they were very, very even games.

“Both teams had big purple patches in those games and we probably capitalised.

“They will look back when Hogg dropped the ball over the line – that’s a big moment in that game, they could have won that for the first fixture of last year’s Six Nations, so fine margins often.

“In the last game we played them in the Autumn Nations Cup, they dominated a large part of the first half but were only leading 9-3 and we got a couple of scores before half-time and then a couple of scores straight after half-time, so we just capitalised on our pressure and they didn’t.

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“They, I’m sure, will look back at those and say, ‘look at these opportunities that we had, we just need to be more clinical’.

“We need to just make sure we’re better this week and keep improving.”

With Scotland trailing 13-6 last February, Hogg dropped the ball on the try line as he attempted to dot down unchallenged before Ireland clung on for a victorious start to the Andy Farrell era.

Explaining the mistake after the game, Hogg said: “Just a schoolboy error. I’m gutted with how that happened. I can’t change what’s happened now. I just need to get on with it.”

Ireland travel to Murrayfield after bouncing back from defeats to Wales and France with a routine win over Italy.

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Scotland, who stunned England on the opening weekend, have not played since an agonising loss at home to Wales a month ago, having seen their scheduled meeting with France postponed due to a coronavirus outbreak in the opposition squad.

Ireland vice-captain James Ryan has never lost to Scotland in five meetings but believes previous results are irrelevant.

“Every time you play a Test match it’s another opportunity,” said the 24-year-old lock.

“Once the game starts, how you fared against them in the past probably doesn’t count for a whole lot.

“I always think Scotland at Murrayfield is a different challenge, obviously there will be no fans there but it will still be a different challenge than if we were playing them in the Aviva.

“They are a very, very strong side who will be very motivated playing in Murrayfield.”

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Adrian 1 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

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Trevor 4 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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Bull Shark 8 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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